Sunday Washington County: Alder Fly, Gray Fly, Calliope Humm

[Steven Mlodinow]

Greetings All

Sorry for the very delayed post. Work, health issues and other such mundane issues interceded. Yesterday, I birded Prewitt Res, Akron Golf Course, town of Anton, and Last Chance, all within Washington County.

Shorebirds at Prewitt were as they have been for the most part, moderate diversity with hundreds of Baird's Sandpipers. Highlights were 8 Sanderlings (7 ads, 1 juv) and 5 BB Plovers (all adults in breeding plumage).

Landbirding at Prewitt (almost entirely along Inlet Channel) was excellent, with 40+ Yellow Warblers, 15 Warbling Vireos, and 60+ House Wrens for constant entertainment, punctuated by a LEAST FLYCATCHER, 3 OS FLYCATCHERS, 3 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, and a DUSKY FLYCATCHER (plus a couple non-ID'd Empids). Also, two singing RED-EYED VIREOS and one INDIGO BUNTING remain from earlier in summer and a CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD was "hawking" insects.

At Akron, with Joey Kellner spotted a GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER

A lush yard in Anton had GRAY, WILLOW, and CORDILLERAN (presumed not to be Pac Slope) FLYCATCHERS

At Last Chance, there was an ALDER FLYCATCHER that refused to speak until spoken to. I played a recording (save all admonitions please) of Willow Fly... no response. I played a tape of Alder Fly, and the bird flew in above me and started giving the "pleep" type call over and over again. There was also a DUSKY and WILLOW FLYCATCHER

Good birding

Steven Mlodinow